Pick-proof cylinder lock



Fgb. 26, 1957 s: PELLE 2,782,624

PICK-PROOF CYLINDER LOCK Filed Aug. 6, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.JffAPYi/V 22x51 Feb. 26, 1957 s. PELLE PICK-PRO0F CYLINDER LOCK 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 6, 1952 United States Patent PICK-PROOFCYLIYDER LOCK Stephen Pelle, Bronx, N. Y. Application August 6, 1952,Serial No. 302,919 3 Claims. (Cl. 70-419) This invention relates tolocking devices and more particularly to cylinder locks.

It is well known that some types of cylinder locks may be opened in afew minutes by a professional burglar employing the following means:

A thin, flat, serrated piece of metal is placed in the keyhole ofcylinder locks now in use and the serrated piece of metal is then causedto play upon the tumblers until they fall into proper order and the lockis opened. The serrated piece of metal resembles a hack-saw blade, thesmooth side of which is filed down until it fits the cylinder key-hole.The serrated piece of metal is usually in operative engagement with arevolver trigger, the pulling of the trigger causing the serrated pieceof metal to play upon the tumblers in the cylinder, causing them to jumpup and down until they fall into the proper order, thus opening thelock. During this operation, this thin blade is twisted slightly and inthe same manner and direction as a conventional key is twisted in thecylinder. By the above means, a professional burglar may readily opensome of the conventional cylinder locks now in use.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to providean improved cylinder lock which for practical purposes cannot be openedby using a serrated piece of metal in operative engagement with arevolver trigger.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedcylinder lock which practically cannot be picked with a piece of wire.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a cylinder lockwhich is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy tooperate, has a minimum number of parts, is compact and durable, is easyto install in the door, and is highly efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary and sectional view, in part, of a cylinder lockembodying the features of the present invention and shown assembled upona door;

-Fig. 2 isa view similar to Fig. 1 and showing the pushbutton mechanismin operative engagement with a part of the lock;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lock showing a key inoperative engagement therewith;

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of one of the parts of the invention;

Figs. 9a and 9b are fragmentary elevational views of slides;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a front elevational view with portions broken away of thelock shown in Figs. 8-10;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one of the parts of the modified formof the present invention;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of another of the parts of the modifiedform shown in Figs. 8-12;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of still another of the parts;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of still another of the parts.

Referring now to the figures in detail, and in the practice of myinvention, 16 represents a hollow cylinder which has at one end thereofa pair of diametrically opposite holes 22 internally threaded to receivescrews 17 whereby to secure the cylinder to a door plate 51 secured inconventional manner to door 52. Integral with the opposite end of thecylinder is a plate of flanged formation 53 which will appear at thefront of the door. A hole 54 extends through the plate formation andthis hole is of less diameter than the interior diameter of the mainpart of the cylinder 16 and provides a shoulder 55. The cylinder 16 haslongitudinally extending slots 1 and 2 into which slides 56 of slideassemblies 57 may be assembled as the assemblies are aligned with thehollow cylinder as described in my prior United States Patent 2,603,081.Several slide assemblies 57 are secured in' conventional manner upon aplate 7 and upon rods 7 thereof, as described in my above noted priorUnited States Patent 2,603,081. This plate 7 has the usual key openingtherein adapted to be aligned with key openings 58 of the assemblies.The plate 7 is shouldered at 59 and this shouldered part extends intothe opening 54 of the plate portion 53 on the front of the door. A key 9penetrates these key openings as shown in Fig. 3.

As described in my prior patent, each slide assembly 57 has separablecasing parts which, when coupled together, retain slide 56 and springs60 which urge the slides outwardly. 1 Each slide has a projection 61against which the spring acts and also a projection 62 on the oppositeside of the slide adapted for engagement by the key 9 as it is extendedthrough the slide assembly. The slide assemblies may be secured togetherby rivets located in holes 63. Openings 64 are provided in the slideassemblies so that they can be adjusted along the rods 7. The entireassembly is placed into the cylinder so that the plate shoulder portion59 extends through the opening 54, whereby some of the projections ofthe slides adapted for engagement by the key are disposed on one side ofthe key, while others are disposed on the other side thereof, thus theslides 56 of three assemblies 57 are adapted to be pushed by one side ofthe key 9, and the slides 56 of three assemblies are adapted to bepushed v by the other side of the key 9. In this manner the six Fig. 5is a front elevational view of another of the parts of the invention;

Fig. 6' is a vertical sectional view taken along line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is 'a perspective view of the cylinder of the lock; Fig. 8 is alongitudinal sectional view of a modified form of the present inventionshown in a locking position;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 and showing the modified form of thepresent invention in an open position;

assemblies are thereby placed in open positions. By the foregoingarrangement, if the trigger-gun described above is used toretract theslides of three assemblies having projections for engagement on one sideof, the key-hole, the other three slides will remain in a lockingposition. I

Referring-to Fig. 7; and in the further practice of my invention, thecylindrical member 16 is provided with a plurality of grooves 65 ofvarying depth and extending the length of the cylinder providing therebya plurality of trap-holes or channels where the slides 56 are lockedevery time the lock is picked with a wire by a burglar in an attempt torotate the assemblies 57. I prefer to provide thirty-two grooves orthirty-four locking positions or" the slides. It isobvious that with sixslides 56, a bur-' glar picking the lock with a wire will have to pickeach slide in each groove and slot, thereby making it necessary to pickthe slides two hundred and four times, without being in position to pickthe lock.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, and in the further practice of myinvention, the cylinder 16 at one end thereof is internally threaded toreceive an externally threaded plate member 13 provided withdiametrically opposed holes adapted to receive the rods 7. The platemember 13 is provided at the center thereof with a hexagonal hole 68 fora purpose to be hereinafter described. A sleeve projection 66 of theplate member 13 is provided at the center thereof with a cylindricalhole 67 communicating with the hexagonal hole .63. A plug 12 is providedhaving a hexagonal end 69 adapted to engage the hexagonal hole 68shouldered at 70 adajcent an enlarged cylindrical portion 71 adapted toengage the cylindrical hole 67, the plug being provided with an annularrecess 72 adjacent the cylindrical portion 71 for a purpose to behereinafter described. The annular recess 72 is abutted by a flange 73and a sleeve portion 74 provided with an axial member 18 secured theretoby a pin 76. A hollow cylindrical member 11 is provided with an internalhole adapted to slidably receive the circular flange 73 and is providedat its outer end with a flange 77 adapted to slidably receive the sleeve74 and to thereby provide an annular compartment 78 housing a helicalspring 14. This spring normally urges the plug 12 into engagement withthe member 1 3, as shown in Fig. 1. The cylindrical member 11 isprovided at its inner end with a flange 80 adapted to coincide with thecylinder 16 surrounding the large opening thereof and secured thereto inconventional manner by screws or the like. The cylindrical member 11 isprovided with an opening 81 communicating with the annular recess 72 ofmember 12 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. A push-buttonmember is slidably located in a longitudinal opening in the cylinder 16and is provided with an inwardly extending arm 82 engaging the opening81 and the annular recess 72, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The outer sideof the flange 80 is provided with a pair of pins 83 and 84, an arcuatearm 85 being rotatably mounted on the pin 84 and having integrallyformed therein a dog adapted to engage an opening 86 in the cylindricalmember 11 adjacent the flange '80. A spring 87 is secured at one end tothe pin 83 and at the other end to the dog 15, as shown in Fig. 6, andserves to normally urge the dog into the opening 86. The flange St) isfurther provided with an opening at its periphery adapted to receive thepush-button member 10.

In operation, the key 9 is turned to the right until the bolt is lockedand will go no further. At this point, the push-button member 10 ispushed in, thereby disconnecting the plug 12 from the plate member 13and permitting the dog 15 to snap further into opening 86 to engage theshoulder of the cylindrical portion 71 adjacent the hexagonal portion 69of the member 12. The key 9 is now free to rotate completely from one tosix times, rotating therewith the plate member 13. The sixth rotationbrings the plate member 13 adjacent one end of the internal threads ofmember 16, due to the threaded engagement therebetween, to a lockingposition. Now, in order to open the lock, the cylinder and assembliesmust be rotated in the opposite direction by means of key 9, or in theease of a burglar attempting to pick the lock, each of the six slidesmust be picked two hundred and thirty eight times, considering thegrooves 65, or altogether the slides will have to be, picked fourteenhundred and twenty eight times. The sixth turn to the left brings theplate member 13 adjacent to the other end of the internal threads of themember 16, whereby member 13 automatically disengages the dog 15, andthe spring 14 simultaneously pushes the push-button member 10 back toits original position an: the; member 12 into engagement with the platemember 13. Finally, the key 9 is turned one more time to the left andthe lock is open.

I have found from experience that the trap-holes are more thansuflicient, but in places of business and especially during theweek-ends, it is more convincing to turn the key around a few more timeswhen pushing the push-button member. It is not necessary to count thenumber of times the key is turned to the locking position. Whenunlocking the lock, merely turn the key to the left until the lock isunlocked.

Referring now to Figs. 8l5, and in the further practice of my invention,there is shown a modified form of a lock. The cylinder 16 is similar tothat shown in the first form, with the modification that longitudinallyextending slots 3 and 4 are provided which are apart from the slots 1and 2 and ratchet grooves 65 replace the grooves 65 of the first form.The slides 56 of the usual assemblies 57 which slides 56 have beenreplaced by slides 56 of the form shown in Figs. 9a and 9b in themodification shown in Figs. 8 and 9, extend into these slots, theassemblies 57" being mounted on rods (not shown) integrally formed in amodified plate 27.

The cylinder 16' is provided at one end thereof with a shoulder 88adapted to receive a circular plate 34 having a circular opening 89 atthe center thereof for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Anassembly 57' similar in its internal construction to the assemblies 57is positioned adjacent the plate 34 within the cylindrical member 28, anotched element 90 being secured to the rear face 33 of the assembly 57'and adapted to enter the opening 89. A notched cylindrical member 31 issecured to the front face of the assembly 57' and extends outwardlytherefrom. An end plate 29 adapted to coincide with the end of thecylindrical member 28 adjacent the opening thereof is secured thereto inconventional manner and is provided with a sleeve portion 91 having aflange 92 adapted to slidably receive the member 31, as shown in Figs. 8and 9. A compressed spring 30 surrounds the member 31 and is positionedbetween the assembly 57' and the flange 92 and normally urges the member31 and assembly 57' away from the flange 92. The cylindrical member 28is provided at the interior thereof with a plurality of ratchet teeth 93extending the length thereof and is further provided with an annularrecess 28 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The key plate 27 is provided with a shoulder 94 abutting the shoulder 55of the cylindrical member 16' and is further provided with a flange 95spaced therefrom to provide an annular compartment 96 adapted to receivea concentric spring 97, one end of the spring being secured to the plate27 by a pin 37 and the other end of the spring engaging the slot 3, asshown in Fig. 10. The key-plate 27 is provided at the end thereof with akey-hole 98 adapted to receive the key 9.

Fig. 8 shows the lock in a locked position.

In operation, the key 9 is inserted in the key-hole 98 with the hole 36in an upper position, as shown in Fig. 9. The upper side of the key 9moves the three slides disposed above the key while the lower side ofthe key moves the three slides disposed below the key, at the same timethe inner end of the key 9 pushes the notched element 90 and theassembly 57' with the notched cylindrical member 31 to an unlockedposition as shown in Fig. 9. The interior of assembly 57' wherein movesslide 56 is similar to that of assemblies 57. The rear face of theassembly is secured by screws located inholes 40. As soon as the key 9is pushed into the key-hole 98 with the upper edgethereof directedtowards the slot 2, the plate 27 with the assemblies 57" automaticallyrotates oncearound until it arrives at the locking position of the lockbolt. The upper edge of the key 9 is again directed towards the slot 2,as shown in Fig. 9. Now, turn the key to the right until the upper edgeof the key is directed towards slot 3. Slots 1- and 2- are now free,while slots 3 and 4 are in registration with the outer ends of theslides in the position of the. key referred to and such slots willreceive theouter ends of the slides when the key is removed. The key,when turned to the right, makes one and revolutions. The key is pulledout when it is directed towards the slot 2.

To unlock the lock, turn the key one and revolutions to the left. Thecylinder 16 has four longitudinal slots and thirty grooves 65, andconsidering the additional 4 turn covering eight additional groovesmakes a total of forty two trap-holes.

One end of the spring 97 is connected to the plate 27 by means of a pin37, while the other end is weighted down with lead 27 (Fig. and droppeddown in slot 3 as far as it will go. See Fig. 10.

While the lock-picking instrument is pushing the member 90 and assembly57 toward the annular recess 28*, a constant clockwise pressure must beexerted on the instrument due to the spring 97 always forcing theassemblies to a locking position. In the event the lock-picker makesprogress, it is inevitable that he will change his position or lose hisgrip long before he goes around the forty two trap-holes, in which casethe assemblies always jump back to the locking position. All of theassemblies 57" and 57 are provided with openings 39 for assembling onrods the same as the rods 7 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in the usual manner.I prefer to form the rods 7 integral with the plate 27.

The cylindrical member 28 has thirty four ratchet teeth 93 designed toprovide trap-holes for locking the slide 56'. The annular recess 28which permits free movement of the slide 56' when the key is pushed in,is shown in Fig. 9.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided improvedpick-proof cylinder locks, particularly with reference to the use of aserrated piece of metal, and also which will be invulnerable to thepicking of the locks with a piece of wire.

While I have disclosed several embodiments of the present invention, itis to be understood that these embodiments are given by example only andnot in a limiting sense, the scope of the present invention beingdetermined by the claims.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of my invention, what isclaimed is:

1. A lock device comprising a hollow cylinder, a plurality of slideassemblies rotatably disposed within said hollow cylinder, said cylinderhaving diametrically opposed slots and a plurality of groovesintermediate said slots, said grooves being of varying depth, said slideassemblies having slides adapted to be projected into said slots andsaid grooves and retracted therefrom, some of said assemblies beingarranged so as to project their respective slides into one of saidslots, the remainder of said assemblies being arranged so as to projecttheir respective slides into the diametrically opposed slot, saidassemblies being adapted to receive a key of the type that is serratedon both edges whereby to engage the slides projected into the first sloton one edge and to engage the slides projected into the second slot onthe opposite edge thereof, said cylinder having a second pair oflongitudinal slots disposed 90 apart from said first pair of slots, saidgrooves being ratchet-shaped, said slides having flared ends whereby toslide in and out of said ratchet-shaped grooves in one direction ofrotation of said slide assemblies and to slide into but not out of saidgrooves in the opposite direction of rotation, a second hollow cylinderadapted to coincide with said first hollow cylinder and secured theretowhereby to provide an interior compartment adjacent said assemblies, aplate member rigidly secured within said first hollow cylinder adjacentsaid assemblies and intermediate said second hollow cylinder and saidassemblies, said plate member having an opening at the center thereof,said second hollow cylinder having a plurality of ratchet-shaped groovesat the interior thereof and an annular recess, an additional assemblylongitudinally adjustable within said interior compartment adjacent saidassemblies, said additional assembly having a slide adapted to extendinto said last mentioned grooves and said annular recess, means operableby said key extending into said opening of said plate member foradjusting said additional assembly longitudinally in said compartment soas to position the slide of said additional assembly in said annularrecess.

2. A lock device according to claim 1, said means for adjusting saidadditional assembly longitudinally comprising a notched element securedto one face of said additional assembly adjacent said plate member, saidnotched element being located at the center of said one face and adaptedto receive the end of said key, a notched cylindrical member secured tothe other face of said additional assembly and extending outwardlytherefrom, said notched member being adapted to receive an axial memberexternal to said lock, and end plate adapted to coincide with the end ofsaid second hollow cylinder adjacent the opening thereof and securedthereto, said end plate having an outwardly extending sleeve having aninwardly extending flange adapted to slidably receive said notchedcylindrical member, a compressed spring surrounding said notchedcylindrical member intermediate said inwardly extending flange and theother face of said additional assembly whereby to normally urge saidadditional assembly and the slide thereof out of said annular recess.

3. A lock device according to claim 2 including a key plate locatedwithin said first hollow cylinder and abutting one end thereof, said keyplate at the inner end thereof having an outwardly extending flangespaced from one end of said first hollow cylinder whereby to provide anannular compartment therebetween, a concentric spring located withinsaid annular compartment, one end of said spring being secured to saidkey plate and the other end of said spring extending into one of saidslots, whereby to automatically rotate said key plate and saidassemblies when said key is in operative engagement with said slides ofsaid assemblies and the end thereof has engaged the notched element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,107,376 Thiman Aug. 18, 1914 2,055,289 Hanan Sept. 22, 1936 2,202,422Hoof May 28, 1940 2,309,677 Segal Feb. 2, 1943 2,358,164 Honger Sept.12, 1944 2,603,081 Pelle July 15, 1952

